Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences : Guide to courses
9. Undergraduate entry

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9. Undergraduate entry
    9.1. Access Melbourne
    9.2. Special initiatives for rural and regional students
    9.3. Mature-age candidates
    9.4. Financial assistance
    9.5. Animal experimentation in practical classes
    9.6. Health requirements
    9.7. Police check for clinical placements
    9.8. Attendance requirements
    9.9. Dean's Honours List
    9.10. Can I study overseas?
    9.11. Community Access Program (CAP)
    9.12. Can I transfer from another course of study?
    9.13. Credit for Melbourne Extension program studies
    9.14. Can I defer my place?
    9.15. Can I study part time?
    9.16. What about psychology students?

9. Undergraduate entry

Minimum prerequisites for entry in 2006 to the medical, dental science and physiotherapy courses are VCE English (any), chemistry, and one of mathematical methods, specialist mathematics or physics (or equivalent).

Minimum prerequisites for entry in 2006 to the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy or Hygiene) course are VCE English (any) and Chemistry or Biology.

Selection into the medicine, dental science, oral health and physiotherapy courses in 2006 will be based upon a combination of the applicant's ENTER, performance in the prerequisite subjects, and performance in an undergraduate medical admissions test (UMAT).

Minimum prerequisites for entry in 2005 to the Bachelor of Nursing Science (Standard) are VCE English (any) or graduates with an approved degree or diploma of at least three years duration. Prerequisites VCE subjects will change for entry in 2006. Please see the School of Nursing web site for further details.

Prerequisites for entry in 2005 to the Bachelor of Nursing Science (Accelerated) are a) an approved degree or diploma of at least three years' duration in the life or physical sciences, b) registration as a Division 2 Nurse plus 12 months work experience or c) a qualification as an Aboriginal Health Worker with two years' work experience. Applicants in categories b) and c) may be required to sit an entry test. Please contact the School for details.

There are no prerequisites to commence studies in psychology, however, the School recommends VCE biology and mathematics. Students must be accepted into a degree course before they can apply to their faculty to study psychology. Please refer to the relevant faculty entry requirements.

9.1. Access Melbourne

Access Melbourne enhances opportunities for selection into a course as it provides prospective students with the opportunity to explain the on-going circumstances that have affected their chance of gaining a place at The University of Melbourne. All applicants will also be considered for a Melbourne Access Scholarship.

Twenty per cent of the University's new undergraduate Commonwealth supported places will be offered to students who have applied through Access Melbourne. This will result in approximately 1000 places being filled in 2006 through Access Melbourne. Up to 200 of these students will be awarded a Melbourne Access Scholarship which offers a HECS-exempt place plus $2000 or $4000 a year for up to four years depending on whether the applicant is from a rural background.

Application for an Access Melbourne place is by the SEAS form http://www.vtac.edu.au with a due date of 7 October 2005.

9.2. Special initiatives for rural and regional students

The Federal Government and the faculty have introduced a range of bonded medical places, bonded and non-bonded scholarships and other financial initiatives to help students from rural and regional backgrounds to gain entry and complete a course in medicine. Further information is available from the School of Medicine's web site at www.medicine.unimelb.edu.au.

9.3. Mature-age candidates

There is no mature-age entry scheme for the medicine, dental science, oral health, nursing or physiotherapy courses. The Selection Committee will consider the full academic record of non-school leaver applicants. Recent study would be expected, and applicants must meet the prerequisite requirements or their equivalents, and applicants must also undertake the UMAT test (where applicable).

9.4. Financial assistance

Assistance is available to medical and dental science students through cadetships with the armed services. These cadetships and scholarships are normally available from the third year of the course and involve a commitment to serve with sponsoring authority for a limited period after graduation.

Students who experience financial difficulties during the course may apply for student loans within the University through the Student Support Services. A number of bursaries are offered annually to students in financial need - see your school office for further information.

9.5. Animal experimentation in practical classes

Some subjects offered by the faculty involve the use of animal experimentation. These experiments are an essential part of the course and exemptions are not possible. All animal experimentation in the University is subject to the rigorous control of the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee. In general, the University aims to reduce animal usage to the minimum consistent with academic needs. As well, computer simulations are being used where possible as an alternative to the use of live animals.

9.6. Health requirements

In order to meet health requirements for working with patients in health care settings, and for the protection of yourself, your patients and other students, you must follow some precautionary procedures. These include: confidential tests for immune status to a number of infectious diseases (including blood and skin tests); receiving vaccines; undergoing X-rays if indicated. These procedures will be necessary where the evidence indicates that they are appropriate and that there are no contraindications in your case. This policy is in accord with the National Health and Medical Research Council advice that educational institutions training students in health sciences should ensure that students are protected, as far as possible, by vaccination against the risk of infection. When you enrol you will be provided with information and counselled about the risks of cross infection in the health care setting. In particular, the issues relating to health care students who are infected with Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV will be addressed. The Australian Immunisation Handbook identifies risk countries in relation to these infections. Please contact the relevant School Office if you believe you may be at risk.

9.7. Police check for clinical placements

Organisations that host clinical placements require you to have obtained a police check regarding your suitability to undertake such placements. If you are an enrolled student or a prospective student, you are advised that you are required to obtain, and pay for, police checks prior to commencing and during your course.

9.8. Attendance requirements

Attendance requirements are 75% for lectures, tutorials and practical classes and 100% for clinical placements and field visits. Students failing to comply with this requirement without appropriate medical documentation may be excluded from examinations. In addition, competent performance in carrying out the duties and work prescribed in all subjects is required. Students are expected to attend lectures, and it is to their advantage to do so.

Nursing Science students are expected to attend all lectures, in addition to tutorials and laboratory sessions. Details of all class times will be included in subject outlines which will be distributed at the beginning of each semester.

9.9. Dean's Honours List

The Dean's Honours List recognises the achievement of the faculty's outstanding students each year. Students are selected on academic merit and receive a letter from the Dean and official acknowledgement on their academic transcript.

Prizes, scholarships and bursaries are also awarded to students for academic excellence at each year level and in individual subjects in faculty courses.

Further details are available from the relevant school office.

9.10. Can I study overseas?

There is no provision to undertake part of the medical, dental science, oral health or nursing courses overseas on an exchange basis, however MBBS/BA students may apply to take part of their arts component through the study abroad program. Opportunities exist for a limited number of second-year physiotherapy students to undertake exchange or study-abroad placements. Students in medicine and physiotherapy are approved to take an elective overseas, and medical students may also be approved to undertake their advanced medical science subjects overseas. BDSc and BOH students have the option of taking elective studies in overseas dental schools.

9.11. Community Access Program (CAP)

Dental science, physiotherapy and undergraduate medical subjects are not available under the CAP. The School of Medicine offers CAP students undergraduate subjects in the following disciplines: biochemistry and molecular biology, microbiology and immunology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology. In addition a small range of postgraduate subjects from various schools is available to suitably qualified applicants.

Psychology subjects are offered through the CAP program. Contact the School of Behavioural Science (Department of Psychology) for more information.

Nursing Science subjects, except clinical subjects, will be offered in 2006 through CAP.

A limited number of oral health subjects may be offered in 2006 under the CAP. For details, contact the School of Dental Science.

9.12. Can I transfer from another course of study?

Applications are accepted for entry to the first year of the medical, dental science and oral health or physiotherapy courses from students in other tertiary courses of study who meet the prerequisite requirements. Applicants would need an excellent academic performance to be competitive for a place. Application for the first year should be lodged with VTAC, except for enrolled students at the University of Melbourne, who may apply for an internal transfer via the Student Information System, (SIS).

All applicants for entry to first year of the medical, dental science, oral health or physiotherapy courses must undertake the UMAT test. Further details are available from the relevant school office.

Entry to the second year of the physiotherapy course is restricted to applicants who have completed appropriate science subjects at university level. Applications must be lodged on the prescribed form available from the Physiotherapy School Office. Only a limited number of places are available and selection is restricted to candidates with outstanding academic records. Applicants must undertake the UMAT test.

Lateral entry is not available in medicine. Applicants with partially completed degrees may apply for entry to the first year of the medical course, however no advanced standing will be given for prior studies, and applicants must undertake the UMAT test. Applicants for medicine who have completed more than 50 per cent of tertiary level study should complete their degree course and apply for graduate entry. Applicants who are in their final year of a degree course, or who have completed a degree, should contact the School of Medicine office for advice regarding the Graduate Entry Program.

Lateral entry in the dental science course is only available to applicants with partially completed dental degrees. Applicants with completed or partially completed degrees in other disciplines may apply to the first year of the dental science course and must undertake the UMAT test.

No applications to transfer can be accepted for the Bachelor of Nursing Science except where applicants meet all of the prerequisites for entry. In assessing applications consideration will be given to the whole academic record. Successful applicants may apply for credit for subjects completed at tertiary level. Credit applications are subject to approval.

9.13. Credit for Melbourne Extension program studies

Applicants for psychology subjects and the Bachelor of Oral Health may be eligible for credit for subjects completed through MUPHAS (Melbourne University Program for High Achieving Students) or other University extension programs available to Year 12 students. In a fixed course such as the BOH however, the possibilities are very limited. Credit is not available for the medical, dental (BDSc) or physiotherapy courses due to the integrated nature of the curriculum.

9.14. Can I defer my place?

Deferral from the medical, dental science and physiotherapy courses is available, subject to approval by the faculty, but deferment is not available to applicants selected into the Graduate Entry Program in medicine. Deferment from the first year of the Bachelor of Oral Health is only granted under special conditions. Deferral from the Bachelor of Nursing Science will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Applications must be made in writing to the relevant school office.

9.15. Can I study part time?

The medical, dental science, oral health and physiotherapy courses are full-time courses. There is no provision for part-time study. Repeat students are required to repeat all subjects in the year.

Nursing science is a full-time course, Monday to Friday for two semesters of 12 weeks each per year.

9.16. What about psychology students?

Conditions of study for students studying psychology are determined by the degree course through which they are enrolled (ie. arts, science, commerce, law or music). Please refer to the relevant faculty's guidelines.